St. Landry democrat., 1887-09-03

society or man rather than avoiding MIN.
The mosquito does not court human
society for mutual improvement. She is
purely selfish in this, her only object being
to glut her appetite for gore.
Although humming- bird, the mosquitoes
is not a hum, sweet hum. In fact it is far
otherwise or even more 80.
She seems to be stuck on her voice, if |
may be permitted the expression but this
opinion is not shared to any great extent by
the people upon whom she forces her COM
pany.
Tney would rather the mosquito be stuck
on fly paper.
An impression prevails among mosquitoes
that mosquito canopies were made for their
special benefit, and they complain bitterly
if the doors Of these airy castles are not left
open for their entrance.
In that case they open the doors with their
night-keys.
Every mosql9to carries night-key. Their
vocal efforts are pitched in it.
The mosquito persstently refuses to takea
hint that her room is more desirable than
her company.
People have smoked very bad cigars in
rooms where mosquitoes were making them
selves at home, only to learn that the bird is
very fond of tobacco.
They have saturated themselves with oil of
pennyrOyal, only TO prove to their dissatls-
faction that its puneent Odor is very grateful
to the mosquito.
Whether the taste of the mosquito for
nOXiOus tobacco smoke and earnest Oil OF
pennyroyal is natural or acquired, | cannot
say, but it certainly seems to be.
Among other hints, people have been
known to chase the mosquito all over the
roOm punctuatlng their steps with frantic
dabs at her with wet towel, only to dis
cover that if there is one thing more than
another which the mosquito thoroughly
enjoys it is physical exercise. She is an
adept at lodging, and whenever the blow
falls the place that knew her once knows her
no more, but she is perched in place Of
vantage on the other side of the room. Wag-
gng her head derisively, and hummng the
latest air.
At such times she also has a tantaliZing
way of asking her pursuer if his name is
Dennis.
And it generally is.
The style of mosquitoes varies but little
from year to year, though it is believed by
people who have been thrown in contact
with them that they are becoming more
aggressive. They are learning to put keener
edge on their proboscides, and they intro
duCe more vitriOl into their victims cuticle
than formerly.
This they can afford to do, as vitrol is
cheaper than it used to be-
To the naked eye the mosquito seems to
be dressed rather dowdilv, but the micro
scope shows that the birds attire is becom-
ing and even graceful.
The gentleman mosquito wears magenta
trousers, dark green coat and pale amber
wings. The lady mosquito is not SO hand
some, but there is more push about her.
She it is that engages in the work of
propagating profanity, while her husband
leads life of elegant leisure.
That is why this article refers to the mos
quito as ''she."
The female mosquito is no gentleman.
She goes into the egg-laying business in a
way which would put hen to shame, if
that were possible.
No little retail trade of one egg day would
satisfy her. She engages in producing in
the wholesale line, depositing about $50 in an
unconcerned way and without apparent
fatigue.
All of these eggs are warranted fresh and
guaranteed to hatch.
She deposits them on the damp surface of
soft and stagnant water, where the shells
won't break, and there they float few days
until they ripen.
They then develop into restless little
worms, sometimes called "wgglers.''
From ten to fifteen days after the appear
ance of the "wigglers'' the immature mos
quitoes enter the pupa state in addition to the
State they happen to be born in. They take |
on thin skin, almost completely covering
the larvae, and roll around in the water,
their motions being directed by pin-like
continuance at the end of the tail
In about eight days after the pupa appears
the skin bursts open, the mosquito rises
slowly and deliberately, spreads her wings |
and looks for some fat human being to
chew.
1t seems as though the mosquito ought to
be more of an, ornament to society than she
is, after passing through such an extensive
curriculum.
There is more trouble over her manufac-
ture than over the formation of spring
chicken or an oyster but she is not half so
popular as either
| am told that in New Jersey, where
mosquitoes attain their full growth, they are
frequently broken to harness. To the
stranger from the United States it must
seem very odd to see yoke of mosquitoes
pulling a pillow, or hitched to wagon taking
produce to market.
Only in New Jersey are they broken to
harness. In other States the aim is to break
them to pieces.
am further informed that the New Jersey
farmer also utilities the egg-laying procliv-
ties of the bird. He coops up a dozen ortwo
female mosquitoes with the chickens, and
sends their eggs to market with the produce
of the hen, and they can only be detected by
their superior size.
MOSQUITOES prefer human blood, and are es-
pec1ally fond of fat babies. A six-months-
old baby, if he be in good condition, will
make a satisfying meal for an adult mos
quito.
AS mosquitoes never sign the pledge, mos
quito bars are numerous. They are closed
Like the plumber, the mosquito is noted
for her bill, which she is never tired OF pre-